“... Rimmon, whose delightful seat
Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks
Of Abana and Pharpar, lucid streams.”
RIOT, see Saturnalia.
RIVER OF FIRE, see Phlegethon.
ROADS, see Vialis.
ROBBER, see Cacus, Cœculus.
ROM′ULUS. The traditional founder of Rome. He was a son of Mars and
Ilia, and twin brother of Remus. The infants were thrown into the
Tiber, but were miraculously saved and suckled by a she-wolf, till they
were found by Faustulus, a shepherd, who brought them up. Remus was
killed in a quarrel with his brother, and Romulus became the famous
emperor.
RUMI′A DEA. The Roman goddess of babes in arms.
RUNCI′A. The goddess of weeding or cleansing the ground.
SACRIFICES were ceremonious offerings made to the gods. To every deity
a distinct victim was allotted, and the greatest care was always taken
in the selection of them. Anything in any way blemished was considered
as an insult to the god. At the time of the sacrifice the people
were called together by heralds led by a procession of musicians.
The priest, clothed in white, was crowned with a wreath made of the
leaves of the tree which was sacred to the particular god to whom the
sacrifice was offered. The victim had its horns gilt, and was adorned
with a chaplet similar to that of the priest, and was decorated with
bright-coloured ribbons. The priest then said, “Who is here?” to which
the spectators replied, “Many good people.” “Begone all ye who are
profane,” said the priest; and he then began a prayer addressed to all
the gods. The sacrifice was begun by putting corn, frankincense, flour,
salt, cakes, and fruit on the head of the victim. This was called the
Immolation. The priest then took a cup of wine, tasted it, and handed
it to the bystanders to taste also; some of it was then poured between
the horns of the victim, and a few of the saturated hairs were pulled
off and put in the fire which was burning on the altar. Then, turning
to the east, the priest drew with his knife a crooked line along the
back of the beast from the head to the tail, and told the assistants to
kill the animal. This was done directly, and the entrails of the victim
taken out and carefully examined by the Aruspices to find out what was
prognosticated. The carcase was then divided, and the thighs, covered
with fat, were put in the fire, and the rest of the animal was cut up,
cooked, and eaten. This feast was celebrated with dancing, music, and
hymns, in praise of the god in whose honour the sacrifice was made. On
great occasions as many as a hundred bullocks were offered at one time;
and it is said that Pythagoras made this offering when he found out the
demonstration of the forty-seventh proposition of the book of Euclid.
SA′GA. The Scandinavian goddess of history.
SAGGITA′RIUS, see Chiron.
SAILS, see Dædalus.
SAL′AMAN′DERS. The genii who, according to Plato, lived in fire.
“The sprites of fiery termagants in flame,
Mount up and take a Salamander’s name.”